Fergusons Flying Circus Airport

The airport was a private-use facility owned and operated by an individual, J.L. 'Fergie' Ferguson. The closure was not due to military conversion, a major accident, or broad economic collapse. The most probable reason is the cessation of aviation activities by the owner, which could be due to retirement, health, sale of the property, or the owner passing away. This is the typical lifecycle for many privately-owned, single-owner airfields.

The site remains private property. Satellite imagery from recent years shows that the former grass runway is no longer maintained for aviation and is now overgrown, blending in with the surrounding fields. The hangars and a few other structures associated with the airport are still standing on the property. It is likely these buildings are now used for agricultural storage, workshops, or other non-aviation purposes by the current landowner.

Fergusons Flying Circus Airport was a classic example of a grassroots general aviation airfield. Its name, 'Flying Circus,' strongly suggests it was a hub for recreational and sport flying, likely involving aerobatics, antique aircraft, and a close-knit community of local pilots. It was not a commercial airport and did not handle scheduled flights or heavy cargo. Operations consisted of small, single-engine propeller aircraft using its single turf/grass runway (Runway 18/36). Its significance lies in its representation of the personal freedom and passion inherent in private aviation during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Note: The airport is located near the city of Philadelphia in Loudon County, Tennessee, not Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Fergusons Flying Circus Airport. As the land is privately owned and the aviation infrastructure has not been maintained, reopening it as an airport would require a significant private investment and recertification. It is effectively a defunct airfield that has reverted to private land use.